Sun Life Direct and the Bobby Moore Fund

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Aug. 25, 2011) - More than 100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day. And nine out of ten of them are over 50.

Sun Life Direct is committed to doing everything possible to look after the interests of those who are over 50. Which is why we're fully supporting the Bobby Moore Fund.

"Our aim is to do everything we can to help protect the lives of the over 50s, which is why we're proud to support the Bobby Moore Fund." Mark Howes, Managing Director, Sun Life Direct

Tragically, World Cup football hero Bobby Moore OBE died of the disease aged just 51, prompting his widow Stephanie to set up the Fund to try and stop the same thing happening to others.

"Having lost Bobby I knew I had to use the opportunity I had, to help make sure that other people didn't die of bowel cancer." Stephanie Moore MBE

With the support of many high-profile sports stars – including the England football team, David Seaman, and Martin Johnson – the Fund aims to make as many people as possible aware of the disease and, if they are in any doubt about whether they might have it or not, to seek medical advice right away.

And with good reason. If bowel cancer is detected at the earliest stage, more than nine out of ten patients can be successfully treated.

Screening can make all the difference

Thanks in part to successful lobbying by Cancer Research UK and the Bobby Moore Fund, everyone in England aged 60 to 69 can get free screening by their GP as part of the NHS's bowel cancer screening programme. In Scotland the scheme is available to everyone aged 50 to 74.

If as many people as possible take advantage of this simple, painless procedure, there is no doubt that the effects of the disease can be significantly reduced.

So, if you're in any doubt, seek advice from your GP as soon as possible. You can find out more about the Bobby Moore Fund by visiting their website.

About Sun Life Direct

Sun Life Direct is a provider of Over 50 Life Insurance, Funeral Plans and Life Insurance. In fact, the Guaranteed Over 50 Plan is the nation's most popular choice for over 50s life insurance*. The Sun Life name has been around for 200 years and has roots stretching back to 1810. By 1900 Sun Life were the first to offer life insurance without the need for a medical – something we're still proud to offer today. More information on Sun Life Direct can be found at www.sunlifedirect.co.uk.